Islamabad: Chief of the South African Air Force Lieutenant General Wiseman Simo Mbambo called on Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu in Islamabad. Upon his arrival, a smartly turned-out contingent of Pakistan Air Force presented Guard of Honour to the visiting dignitary.

According to Radio Pakistan, during the meeting, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu emphasized the shared values and aspirations that form the foundation of the deep-rooted friendship between Pakistan and South Africa. The Air Chief reiterated Pakistan Air Force’s commitment to bolster the aerial combat capabilities of the South African Air Force through tailored training and capacity-building initiatives.

Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo lauded the Pakistan Air Force’s robust operational readiness, its multi-domain warfare capabilities, and its success in maintaining a credible deterrence posture. Recognizing the shared values and interests between the two Air Forces, the South African Air Chief expressed a strong desire to further strengthen and institutionalize the formal relationship between the South African Air Force and PAF.

One of the central themes of the discussions was the revamping of the South African Air Force’s training regime. In this context, Lieutenant General Mbambo sought the Pakistan Air Force’s support in developing a modern and comprehensive training framework, commencing at the academy level. The visiting dignitary also expressed his earnest desire for the participation of South African Air Force officers as observers in PAF’s major operational exercises.

Acknowledging the technical excellence and cost-effective maintenance capabilities offered by the Pakistan Air Force’s engineering infrastructure, Lieutenant General Mbambo conveyed the intent of the South African Air Force to undertake the inspection and maintenance of its C-130 fleet in Pakistan.